/ Forum for Human Rights in Israel/Palestine
cfd is actively involved in the Forum for Human Rights in Israel and Palestine. The forum is a working group of Swiss development and Human Rights organisations in the Near East. It strongly advocates the observation of Human Rights in Israel and Palestine, and supports approaches to the solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that comply with International Law. The forum keeps the public informed on the Human Rights situation in Israel and Palestine, and suggests strategies to strengthen the position of Human Rights in the political process. The forum lobbies for the unequivocal implementation of Human Rights policies within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasising the co-responsibility that Switzerland has, due to its role in the historical situation out of which the conflict emerged.
The following organisations are members of the Forum: Amnesty International Switzerland, Caritas Switzerland, cfd – the feminist peace organisation, Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland, Association Switzerland-Palestine, HEKS-EPER, Department for Ecumenical Affairs and Cooperation, Reformed Churches Berne-Jura-Solothurn, Horyzon – International Cooperation of the Swiss YMCA/YWCA, Palestine solidarity of the Basle region.
The Future of Palestinian Refugees
The question of the future of the Palestinian refugees is one of the core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In all its activities, the forum focuses on creative approaches that can constructively contribute to the highly polarised debate on the rights of Palestinian refugees.
'An end to exile - a future for justice - a foundation for reconciliation - a role for Switzerland'. The Forum for Human Rights in Israel/Palestine chose this as its motto when its members articulated their position on the question of the Palestinian refugees.
In November 2004, specialists from OeME (a working association of ecumenical church organisations, missions and development organisations) and the Forum for Human Rights in Israel and Palestine held a much noted conference titled 'The End of the Journey: Realities and Perspectives of Palestinian Refugees'. In texts and images, their comprehensive documentation illustrates the reality lived by refugees in Lebanon, and presents new legal and political solutions. It also documents the debate in Switzerland. The authors include Leila El-Ali (Director of the refugee organisation Najdeh in Lebanon), Yossef Schwartz (President of the Israeli Human Rights organisation Hamoked), Viola Raheb (author) and Marwan Abado (musician), Lex Takkenberg (Direktor of the UNRWA in Syria) and Nicolas Lang (Special Ambassador for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in the Near East).
The documentation costs 10 Swiss Francs and can be ordered at the OeME: oeme@refbejuso.ch